This project will contribute to a greater comparative understanding of state-customary knowledge and its challenges in Africa by way of a study of the experience of the post-apartheid State in this regard. The approach is less anthropological or legal than political and governance oriented. The outcome will be a monograph that can be slotted into the global discussion on Rule of Law and legal pluralism, focusing on the vexing issue of how to advance the rights of women in a context of sensitivity and respect for distinct cultures.